Vincent Long is a highly respected local government CEO known for his fiscal, strategic, and operational expertise and recognized nationally as a transformational leader.

A superior communicator with outstanding interpersonal and analytical skills (and a sense of humor to boot), he has demonstrated an uncommon ability to maintain the highest confidence of elected officials, the commitment of staff, and the trust of residents and community partners while effectively dealing with the complex and competing issues facing local government managers.

Long became county administrator in the darkest days of the Great Recession and used it as an opportunity to make big structural and cultural changes so the county could thrive even in tough times. As a result, Leon County managed to complete generational projects, launch innovative projects, and attract significant private-sector investment during the pain-fully slow economic recovery.

Long led two successful sales tax referenda, ensuring 35 years of uninterrupted investment in infrastructure and economic development projects. He also received national attention for his management of three successive hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the height of the pandemic, to ensure a ready workforce to address urgent community needs and to protect the public and employees, Long made national news as one of the first employers, public or private, to require employee vaccinations as a condition of employment. This move was politically controversial, but in the end, he was lauded for the county’s response in setting up testing sites, providing emergency transport, and conducting hospital surge planning. The U.S. Department of the Treasury recognized Leon County as the top provider of coronavirus relief funds in Florida and one of the leading distributors of emergency rental assistance funds in the nation. Prior to COVID-19, during hurricanes Hermine (2016), Irma (2017), and Michael (2018), Leon County was recognized by FEMA as the nation’s first #HurricaneStrong community.

Under Long’s leadership, the county has excelled in job creation, most recently securing an Amazon fulfillment center that will make a $200 million capital investment, create approximately 3,600 jobs, and have a $100 million recurring annual economic impact. In Leon County, water quality is a perennial priority, for which Long forged a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Florida Department of Environ-mental Protection to leverage county and state dollars and invest tens of millions over the next decade in springs protection. Long also oversaw the unique transformation of a former landfill site into a world-class cross-country course that attracted the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships for the first time in Florida.

Since becoming administrator, Long has led Leon County to 95 awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for best practices from conceiving innovative programs to providing fundamental services.

Long is a leader in many community and professional organizations, including the Florida Association of County Managers, the Florida Association of Counties Institute for County Government, the Florida Local Government Investment Trust (overseeing an investment portfolio of more than $1 billion), and the Alumni Advisory Board for the Askew School at Florida State University, where he also served on the adjunct faculty teaching graduate courses in local government for more than ten years.

Long has authored numerous articles published by ICMA and other national professional organizations and is highly sought after to share best practices and help colleagues navigate difficult issues as a speaker, trainer, and coach.

Over his nearly three-decade career, Long has been recognized in local, state, and national news outlets and publications for his leadership. He has made outstanding contributions to his county government and his community. Guided by his strong emphasis on strategic planning and organizational culture, he has successfully led an organization that delivers transformational projects, solves problems, manages crises, and stands as a model for effectiveness in public service year after year.